Clever Ways to Grow in Small Spaces: Container Vegetable Gardening for Beginners

[@jfrank1882]

Huw posted, you've posted now all we need is Mr Dowding's and it'll be a perfect Friday

[@lukasstober4920]

He did :))

[@georgelikesrock]

The accuracy of this comment is outstanding

[@GrowVeg]

I'm honoured to be in the same bracket as that fine pair - and even more honoured to make your Friday viewing complete!

[@jfrank1882]

@@GrowVeg 🍻🍻😌

[@sayang38us]

So true!

[@Andrewm714]

Just as the last of the surprise 10" of snow is melting away from around my house in Seattle this video sprouted up like a spring flower.

[@GrowVeg]

Perfect timing hey Andrew!

[@simpleperrydiselife]

I'm all about frugal and eye pleaseing Gardening. All these items will cost you next to nothing at the thrift store. These ideas are perfect! Thanks for sharing. ❤🙏

[@GrowVeg]

And thank you for watching. It's great if you can reuse things for sure!

[@mohannadmalik5373]

I love your videos ben starting with your big shiny smile keep up

[@GrowVeg]

Haha - thanks. I'll try to keep the smile going. :-)

[@Onniesprairiegarden]

Thank you for this! I can't have my big garden this year because we're in a rental so I have to do containers! This is so helpful!

[@GrowVeg]

Really pleased to hear that.

[@meltemtuna2134]

Exactly what I needed. Thanks

[@rawfoodelectric]

Hey! It's ME!! I have a very low very large basket I was gonna sell but oh! No more! I'm making a leaf lettuce garden! You're a GENIUS!

[@GrowVeg]

That was one of my colleagues who came up with the idea. But it is genius isn't it - such a lovely way to grow salad leaves.

[@glow1815]

Loving the lettuces basket! Never thought of it, will try it....

[@deborah820]

Great video! I love the idea of reusing baskets, those can be easily found at garage sales and thrift stores.

[@stewartwilson1]

So my girlfriend and her mate have just got an allotment , And although there is lots of gr8 youtuber gardeners , I have sent them both to this page , your videos are so enthusiastic And done in such a simple easy to understand way i think its the perfect place to learn , massive thanks for the hours and hours of videos !!!

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks for that Stewart!

[@growinglongisland]

Great video thanks

[@sneakyhippo8663]

Love the ideas! I’m starting for the first time this year and can’t wait. I will say to be careful with pallets as some are used for chemicals and that could pose a risk for your tasties. The strawberry tower might benefit from a piece of pvc pipe down the middle and you could potentially water it that way. Either way I’ll be trying some of these, thank you!!!

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks for the wise words - and agreed, definitely play it on the safe side. :-)

[@brandon3872]

I'm so excited spring is nearly here :)

[@GrowVeg]

Not long now...

[@geosock]

That strawberry idea is amazing! I’ll have to give it a try come April 👍

[@prunechat8401]

Many thanks for more inspiring ideas! Unfortunately we failed when we moved our strawberry plants to a similar tower arrangement, I think it was a problem with getting sufficient light to all of the plants. We successfully grew strawberries in a raised bed with netting at ripening time to protect the fruits. Then little mice found their way into the raised bed and under the netting and they ate every single strawberry including parts of the stems. We couldn’t find a way to keep them out so moved the plants to towers before finally giving up after very poor results again last year. On a positive note the new(ish) bush raspberry plant makes a great container addition. We had our first Ruby Beauty last year and picked hundreds of perfect raspberries over perhaps 4 weeks in all. Happy in a container these plants are so much easier for a small garden than the traditional canes. Very much look forward to following your videos as the gardening year progresses 😁

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks for watching. Sorry to hear about your strawberries - how frustrating! I've not heard of bush raspberry plants - these sound incredible and I shall be investigating!

[@GardenMinistry.]

Your videos brighten my day! ☀️

[@GrowVeg]

:-)

[@jonihughey1352]

I have two 30’ rows of strawberries I planted last year in my garden. Currently in the snow, but they’ll bloom in late April, here in middle Tennessee.

[@then_comes_dudley]

I love this guy's videos.

[@annephillips1870]

And the book looked so good, that I’ve just ordered it!

[@GrowVeg]

Nice one Anne, thank you so much. :-)

[@Blarg6306]

Just lost my garden bed space since we moved to a community that doesn't allow them. I can sneak a pallet wall of herbs along the side though, and the strawberry tower is a great idea. Thanks a bunch!

[@GrowVeg]

Such a shame you aren't allowed a garden bed space, but pleased you've managed to sneak in some herbs!

[@HaveaGreatDayEveryone]

Omg, learned something new today! Thanks for the strawberry fertilizer advice!

[@GrowVeg]

You are very welcome!

[@ezclean7022]

wow.. these are amazing ideas. that strawberry tower is beautiful 😍

[@shavanerad9038]

This year I got a pea variety that is bred in Asia specifically for pea shoots -- first time I've done that! I am going to plant them in a dish with bamboo trellis in the front yard, with flowers around the dish, in the ground. This also isolates from pollination from my snap peas in the raised beds out back, and makes seed saving a better bet. Around the time the peas are getting tired from the heat, I'm planning on putting some opal basil around a spicy globe basil, with trailing nasturtium on the edge of the dish. The peas will fix nitrogen for their summer successors, too. In the ground around this house, the soil is of terrible quality (boggy clay), and probably full of persistent pesticides, so anything edible I am growing in raised beds or containers. That's another great reason to use containers for anything edible, if you care about organic! Most of my garden that is going into edibles is former suburban lawn in the Southern US here, and this is a region that was culturally just in love with pesticides, herbicides and who knows what, plus lead paint and... Another good application for artsy containers is for shade annuals and perennials (ornamental or edible) under trees with surface roots. You shouldn't dig and disturb the tree roots, but as far as the tree is concerned, the containers are cooling mulch. Even were I fond of turf, it couldn't be maintained there. With a variety of shapes and sizes, you can fit in among the roots and have something of a shabby chic effect.

[@GrowVeg]

Those all sound like great ideas Shava. Love the idea of using artsy containers to shade the soil for tree roots. :-)

[@davidbetts9587]

Tysm Ben. Your videos are inspiring and informative. Love these ideas

[@GrowVeg]

Cheers David. :-)

[@tennesseenana4838]

Last year I learned about growing plants, veggies, or whatever in food safe storage tubs. They range in size from 18 gallons to 50 gallons and can be elevated on blocks or bricks. I call them my mini raised beds. Tending them is much easier on my back. They're available in most stores like Walmart and also Amazon. I can also have small plant pots in them for layering.

[@GrowVeg]

What a great idea! :-)

[@randijohansen5683]

I love these charming ideas💕

[@myzmaria]

I reuse a lot of chicken feed bags for all kinds of gardening things from potato grow bags to not buying storage for winter root cellaring. They would be great in the pallets too just ensure they have holes. Some dog food bags turned inside out would also probably work.

[@GrowVeg]

Great idea, thanks. :-)

[@hayjay1130]

Fantastic ideas x

[@hammersherbsandmore1360]

Thank you so much for these clever ideas. Can't wait to try these out for my salads :)

[@annephillips1870]

I do so love your videos and I’m just about to take a look at your book. Anne from Australia

[@laurieanne9712]

All great ideas! Thank you!

[@jackieo8693]

Great ideas!

[@seanjsellscars]

This is brilliant!!

[@janetbull2616]

Brilliant video again Ben many thanks 👍

[@GrowVeg]

Cheers Janet.

[@dwwcoder5048]

Great ideas.

[@FromOurGarden]

Great tips! So using these ideas this year! So excited for spring! Thank you for such wonderful and informative videos!

[@GrowVeg]

You're welcome. I can't tell you how excited I am for spring too, and where I am it looks like it's going to arrive this week. Let the frantic sowing commence!

[@karenandriancontainergardening]

I love your vegetable choices. I have never tried the ones from the grocery store. Thanks for that information. I love that herb pallet garden

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks for watching Karen.

[@rosewood513]

I just ordered your new book; I have been gardening for many years and I was a master gardener. But I love your style and I am sure I will get many ideas. Thank you. :)

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks for ordering, it's appreciated. I hope you enjoy it. :-)

[@rosewood513]

@@GrowVeg I enjoyed it very much...

[@indyw3458]

I loved the video with interest in projects for this year’s inspiration in the garden. Thank you!

[@GrowVeg]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@CharlesettaAde]

😊 thanks!

[@jojohnston4113]

Loved the projects! Baskets are usually plentiful at our local thrift store.

[@GrowVeg]

That's a great source for these sorts of items.

[@organicgardenerke906]

Creative ideas

[@ericataylor1708]

Great tips 👌

[@debkincaid2891]

Love, love, love these ideas! ♥️

[@thedaisyway6467]

Very good ideas, I did a similar one last year in one of my videos ! I love using pallets and convert them into planters👍

[@GrowVeg]

It's such a creative way to grow isn't it. :-)

[@GrowVeg]

Just looked at your channel. Absolutely LOVE your tomato pallet planter - such an ingenious idea.

[@thedaisyway6467]

@@GrowVeg oh god ! You did! Means a lot , 🙏

[@janeboobyer8259]

Great video . I’m going to attempt salad leafs for first time🙏

[@GrowVeg]

You'll love growing them Jane - so satisfying and surprisingly quick

[@senicanastasia]

I just love you 🤗

[@GrowVeg]

Ah, thanks Senica - you'll make me blush!

[@Hatarue]

New subcriber here and loving all of your videos!

[@GrowVeg]

Oh that's wonderful to here Marie-Christine. Thanks so much for the sub!

[@michaelholmes2101]

Ah you are great and so knoweledgable. Nature is God. Going to buy your new book but am saving up to buy somethig else first. God, what a mess the world seems to be in right now, and the Borg say: resistance is futile. May the force be with you

[@GrowVeg]

And may the force be with you too Michael - hang on in there!

[@lostandfound1642]

great ideas, love the basket herbs and strawberry pots!! and in place of chemical fertilizers we could use natural things such as ground eggshells, ground peanut shells, tiny bits of orange peel, coffee grounds etc. What else would you suggest??

[@GrowVeg]

A wormery is a great way to process kitchen scraps and get lovely worm castings to help enrich potting mixes. And making comfrey tea is a natural way to produce a high-potassium feed for fruiting plants like tomatoes.

[@lostandfound1642]

@@GrowVeg Thanks for the feedback... though I think I'll skip the wormery idea _))) I will find out about comfrey tea.... Rice water is also supposed to be good, right?

[@chrisdaviesguitar]

you should define 'potting mix'

[@GrowVeg]

Hi Chris. I use potting mix and it's probably the most internationally recognised term for what is called potting soil in the USA and compost here in the UK. But basically I mean any all-purpose/multi-purpose material sold in the garden centres that you use for filling pots and containers to plant into.

[@barbaradownie3265]

THE BLACK WOVEN FABRIC UNDER THE PEAS WILL THE FABRIC ALLOW EXCESS WATER TO DRAIN AT BOTTOM? THANK YOU

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, absolutely - it's porous.

[@MBEspinosa]

I got distracted watching this video and it has gotten dark. I must go get the radicheta leaves in the cold winter darkness ... buha, buha ...

[@JosephLorentzen]

What plants do well in tiny containers? I am thinking of using 12 oz, 340 ml cups.

[@GrowVeg]

That size is quite limited but you could try salad leaf mixes and maybe radishes.

[@deionfuller5394]

I need to learn how to grow callaloo from scratch

[@GrowVeg]

I've never grown callaloo, but looking at advice online it seems to be a lot like spinach in how it's grown. I hope you manage to grow it this season.

[@axspike]

Fantastic video... But you spelt coriander wrong.

[@zaubab4023]

What is the name of those white flowers behind you?

[@GrowVeg]

Those are snowdrops. :-)

[@zaubab4023]

Thank you.

[@lynwoodall6155]

Where can I get the fabric you mention? Is it sold a garden centres? As you might guess, I’m a new gardener.

[@GrowVeg]

No problem. You're looking for weed-suppressant/control fabric. For the containers of salad leaves and peas you want something like this: www.amazon.co.uk/ALBERT-AUSTIN-Weed-Membrane-Suppressant/dp/B08VHGYZJK/ref=sr_1_14?adgrpid=1173179805393713&hvadid=73323940378567&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=132099&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-73323876384326%3Aloc-188&hydadcr=5941_2261226&keywords=weed+suppressant+membrane&qid=1655133465&sr=8-14 For the herbs pallet project you are looking for something called Mypex. E.g. www.amazon.co.uk/ANSIO-Membrane-Landscape-stabilised-Landscaping/dp/B0845VYZ3X/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?adgrpid=1173179805393713&hvadid=73323940378567&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=132099&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-73323876384326%3Aloc-188&hydadcr=5941_2261226&keywords=weed+suppressant+membrane&qid=1655133465&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyTjNPUFE3NDVBVU82JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNzY2NjA1MU5DSzdKT1lPS1BKRiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMjIwNjMwM1EyOFRHSVpXNDE5UyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

[@lynwoodall6155]

@@GrowVeg thank you

[@RoseMary-vs3io]

👌👍

[@markcarey8426]

Why not use saucers? Stop things drying out too much.

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, you could definitely stand pots in saucers during the summer months. This will help them to soak up all the water and will make a more efficient use of water too.

[@markcarey8426]

@@GrowVeg Thanks very much. I'll do that. Cheers.

[@jonihughey1352]

I bought $60 worth of seeds, but there’s 5” of snow. I have potting mix from last year in several large pots. Can I use it again or do I need to go buy new? I’m in Tennessee, USA. 👋

[@GrowVeg]

Hi Joni. Yes, you can absolutely reuse last year's potting mix. You have two options. Break it all up then use it to part-fill containers - the bottom half - then top-up with fresh potting mix. This is ideal for shallower rooted plants that won't need the full depth of potting mix. The other option is to break it all up then add some fresh potting mix to it, plus some organic fertiliser to replace the lost nutrients. You can then use this fo fill containers. Use only fresh potting mix for sowing into though - just for around the seeds.

[@sharonwright56]

And sorry I meant I saw your dog or cat

[@cconroy1677]

I can't find weed barrier that isn't plastic. I have a million milk crates the previous owner of the farm left behind, but nothing eco-friendly to line them with?

[@GrowVeg]

You could try hessian/burlap. Or simply several layers of moistened newspaper.

[@LifeIsMessyImLearningAsIGrow]

Thanks for sharing your video! Your garden is beautiful. I’m a gardener too and I’m researching all the things I can grow in containers. I’m happy it led me to find you. I’m so happy it did your channel has so much to offer! This is very helpful. Thanks for teaching me something new. I hope we can learn more from each other as we grow our gardens and our channels!

[@oliverlauenstein6511]

Silly question, but "Order before March 2, 2021 and you can register to receive a free bonus chapter!"... register where?

[@GrowVeg]

Not a silly question at all Oliver. There's a link in the video description. Click on that to learn more about the book and how to preorder and receive the bonus chapter.

[@oliverlauenstein6511]

Oh I already pre-ordered, I was just a bit lost concerning the "register" bit. As I'm having your attention anyway. Thank you so much for your wonderful videos, they are watched frequently both for their information as well as enjoying the sheer joy of and enthusiasm for gardening therein.

[@ThatBritishHomestead]

It is always shocking how much you can grow in a small space!

[@НаталияЛомакина-з3и]

Очень жаль. Хочу на русском послушать. Какой язык? Буду учить.

[@sharonwright56]

Ok I was wrong it was a cat

[@sharonwright56]

I think I saw dog

[@GrowVeg]

Well spotted - that's Rosie our new dog.

[@cynthiahouse1341]

I can't wait for your book to arrive. I look forward to each video.

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks so much Cynthia. Hope you enjoy the book.

[@joachims.1724]

doesn't lettuce need light to germinate?

[@GrowVeg]

No. Just lightly cover the seeds over - just so they disappear from view. I cover them with around 0.5-1cm, or a quarter inch of potting mix.